India Imposes Three-Hour Rule for Unlawful Online Content
India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has introduced amended IT Rules requiring social media platforms to remove unlawful content within three hours of receiving a government notification. The change, announced in early February 2026 and effective from February 20, 2026, significantly shortens the previous 36-hour window and apply to major platforms including Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), YouTube, and X.
The amendments also address AI-generated content for the first time, defining it as audio, video, or images created or altered to appear authentic (excluding ordinary editing, accessibility tools, or genuine educational/design work). Platforms must clearly label such material, add permanent traceable markers where feasible, and prevent removal of those labels. They are further required to deploy automated detection tools to identify and block illegal AI content, including deepfakes, non-consensual intimate imagery, child sexual abuse material, explosives-related content, false documents, and impersonation.
Digital rights organizations and experts have raised significant concerns. Anushka Jain of the Digital Futures Lab noted that while labelling requirements could enhance transparency, the tight timeline risks full automation and over-censorship: “Companies are already struggling with the 36-hour deadline because the process involves human oversight. If it gets completely automated, there is a high risk that it will lead to censoring of content.”
India blocked more than 28,000 URLs in 2024 following government requests, according to transparency reports. The new rules arrive amid global scrutiny of social media content moderation, with countries like Australia banning social media use for under-16s and several European nations advancing age-restriction measures. In India, platforms already operate under strict intermediary liability rules, with this shortened takedown period meaning more overall pressure for compliance.
